The Importance of Fashion in Netflix’s Wednesday: Insights from Jenna Ortega

Are you a fan of Netflix’s latest hit, “Wednesday”? In addition to its thrilling storyline, the show is also making a splash in the fashion world. From Jenna Ortega’s standout wardrobe to the spooky chic aesthetic of the series, “Wednesday” is proving that fashion can play a major role in creating a captivating on-screen experience. In this article, discover how the importance of fashion is bringing this anti-hero tale to life.

Starring Catherine Zeta-Jones as the vampire matriarch Morticia, Luis Guzmán as Gomez, and Thing as a sentient hand, and directed by the Oscar-winning Tim Burton, “Wednesday” features much of the wacky family unit (Victor Dorobantu). New characters such as Gwendoline Christie’s Principal Larissa Weems, Riki Lindhome’s Valerie Kinbott, and Christina Ricci as Nevermore professor Marilyn Thornhill are introduced. After making her name as the cynical teen in the film versions of The Addams Family in 1991 and 1993, Ricci returns to the world of The Addams Family in the Netflix adaption.

In a roundtable discussion, Ortega says, “Freak representation is crucial, and I believe that it’s extremely healthy for them to be portrayed in a positive, disturbing way.” This comedic murder mystery spinoff features the beloved antihero with a sharp tongue becoming an even bigger troublemaker than she already was, despite the fact that she now also attends therapy, solves crimes, and potentially even considers a romantic interest. Maybe. Even more than that, she’s a fashion icon.

It’s hard to picture Wednesday in any other outfit than the severe braided pigtails and black schoolgirl dress that she wore in the original ’90s film. In the course of the show’s eight episodes, though, Wednesday experiments with a sexier side of her gothic identity. Her traditional black schoolgirl outfit has been updated from the start with sharper collars and cuffs to reflect the times. Her Rave-N-Dance prom outfit, on the other hand? This is Alaa.

According to Ortega, Wednesday’s (black) outfit is essential to the plot. The actor tells us, “This is fantastic because it further distinguishes Wednesday from the other characters,” when she dresses differently from the rest of the cast.

The former You and Jane the Virgin star found that Wednesday’s stern appearance aided her performance. “Hair, makeup, and costume are huge when you’re going into character. When done effectively, it makes it easier to do your work since you actually feel like your character.”

Colleen Atwood, the four-time Academy Award-winning costume designer, and regular Burton partner, took care of the cast admirably. More than ten films have been produced with Atwood as a collaborator with Burton, including the Academy Award-winning film Alice in Wonderland. Ortega is a huge fan of Atwood and has nothing but glowing words: “She’s a Hollywood classic.”

Christie, who portrays the Nevermore graduate turned principal Weems, is also an Atwood fan. “Colleen Atwood is a wonderful costume designer and can see what suits you best,” she tells the journalists in a briefing. As a woman, I felt like my physicality and my ability to think creatively were both honored. On set, I had the best time of my life.

Christie, who had her star-making debut as Brienne of Tarth in Game of Thrones, followed by roles in Star Wars and Netflix’s The Sandman, has expertise in participating in projects already inscribed in pop culture canon and knows precisely how vital a role fashion plays. In fact, she claims that Burton himself was cooperative in this area by soliciting her opinion on several aspects of her wardrobe. He’s interested in “what you think, how you view the character, and how you want to look,” she says.

Wednesday wears a berry lip (her characteristic pout is MAC’s lip liner in Nightmoth), while Principal Weems sports a striking matte red lip, and Enid (Wednesday’s roommate) sports rainbow hair and nails. And it’s all owing to the show’s hair and makeup stylist Tara McDonald, who is also responsible for nailing the character’s notorious braids.

The clothes and deadpan expressions didn’t seem too far-fetched to Ortega, and he appreciated them. If you ask Ortega, “I feel like [Wednesday and I] like similar stuff already,” he’ll tell you. I’ve always had a soft spot for collared shirts. It’s always been something I’ve been drawn to. I love dark colors.” Case in point: Ortega has recently started coming out in outfits that seem like homages to her character, donning black lace à la Versace and Valentino at events.

She elaborates by saying that, much like her goth alter ego, color is something that “painfully” distracts her. “It actually kills me to wear color sometimes yet I do it because I feel like I have to. “You can see I’m not as sure of myself as Wednesday is,” she says playfully.

The one new addition to Ortega’s arsenal of beauty aids is Wednesday’s black nail polish, which she borrowed from her on-screen adolescent self. She reveals, “I rarely wore nail polish in the past.” Now I feel like I always have black polish on my nails.

Wednesday-inspired dress from Dresslily: